Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

CCIC Reviews 1997; Looks Ahead to '98

Looking back and ahead dominated discussion at the Clark County Industrial Council's final meeting of 1997.

With no formal agenda, CCIC President Brown Hardman reviewed what had happened during 1997 and what the council hopes to have occur in 1998.

Using a chronological method, Hardman began with January, saying the CCIC elected new board members and sponsored a Legislative Breakfast in Little Rock for the General Assembly.

February saw the end of the membership drive with 325 members of the organization, some 175 short of the goal of 500 it had set.

No one needed to be reminded what happened in March, as a series of tornadoes struck the area, devastating downtown Arkadelphia.

In the aftermath, the CCIC did what it could in the rebuilding effort and the 2025 Commission was officially formed.

In April, Arkadelphia received $500,000 from the Arkansas Legislature, with $400,000 going to individuals to help them recover from the storms. The other $100,000 was used to purchase an emergency siren system.

May was the first annual Arkansas Industry Month, with some 35 businesses giving discounts to industry workers wearing a pin designed for the program.

The Dawson Cooperative was salvaged and remained in Arkadelphia in June. The educational cooperative had been considering a move, but with help from Landau, Inc., a lease agreement was reached and Dawson decided to stay.

July was a slow month, with interested prospects being shown sites at the new satellite business park near Interstate 30.

The Jennings Osborn family was welcomed back to Clark County in August by the Clark County Chamber of Commerce.

A grant for an access road to the satellite park was approved in September. The grant was for $1,083,000. Bids were let and opened, along with work orders being issued. Additionally, the CCIC existing industry committee did a survey to see what industry needed most in the county.

October saw Arkadelphia retain its Arkansas Community Excellence certification, and the first Industrial Appreciation Golf Tournament.

Stop work orders were issued and rescinded in November on the satellite park road project, as weather allowed construction to progress. Results from the survey were also shared with the CCIC board.

December came with the access road about 45 percent completed and the membership drive still underway, while the rebuilding process in Arkadelphia continues.

In looking forward to 1998, Hardman said the CCIC will meet in January to nominate new members for the board, with the election of officers coming in February.

He said the CCIC still has a goal of 500new members it hopes to reach before the end of the membership drive.